Thinking out loud about my 71

[Todd Wilson]

After attending the Kansas Mopar Cruise this year and seeing some of the other cars its got me thinking on making some updates/changes to my 71 Charger. The car has been repainted and has for the most part been rebuilt some 20+ years ago with about 15,000 miles on everything.  I am wanting to get the AC working again. It used to work fine before I installed a new cam in 1999 and had to bleed the system when taking things apart.

The front end was completely rebuilt and has no issues other then the steering box is a tad loose. I have adjusted it with some luck but it still feels loose to me.

I also have some old wheels on it that are 26 years old from a friends Charger that was wrecked in the 80's. I had a blow out years ago and often wonder if one of those rims is bent slightly.

My thinking right now is to turn this car into a road car for driving.

So the questions are  how tough is it to change the steering box. What does everything think about the Firm Feel boxes?   I see they also have add on sway kits for front and rear. Are these worth the price to buy?

I am wanting to get some Magnum 500 wheels   and have 14's on the front and 245-60-15's on the rear with air shocks.  Is it possible to get an offset wheel to allow these tires to fit inside the wheel well allowing me to get rid of the air shocks?! Will also want to replace the shocks as well.

Trying to get the ride and handling much better then it is right now.

Thoughts and suggestions on solving my wheel and steering?!

Todd

[moparstuart]

go with the Steer & gear box 
   http://www.steerandgear.com/      they have a firm feel stage II box that works great and cheaper .


  I love mine , I also added bigger T-Bars and front and rear sway bars over the winter 
  car drives like a dream now 


Get it ready , make it comfy and road worthy and drive the hell out of it  LIFE is short ENJOY !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[moparguy01]

I have a firmfeel box and it's much nicer than my stock box. I went with the stage 3. Also, there is no reason you can't get a 245 inside that wheelwell. I can fit a 295/50 inside mine with the correct backspacing. These cars have huge wheel wells.  I say do it Todd!

[Ghoste]

The 71 fuselage styling seems to be a popular choice for the Pro Touring guys so I would think there are no shortage of aftermarket companies with products to help.  The 3rd gen Charger almost seems like it was born to be a drivers car.

[dads_69]

Nah, I say sell it and buy a Caravan! 

[200MPH]

Ha i remember that blow out in Boerne, the sway bars are an excellent idea i had them on my old 68 front and rear  the steering box  was new from autozone and shimmed to be less twitchy i   would check out firm feel or others as well

[Todd Wilson]

Nah, I say sell it and buy a Caravan! 

I'm thinking about doing that with Frankie! 


Todd

[Todd Wilson]

I have a firmfeel box and it's much nicer than my stock box. I went with the stage 3. Also, there is no reason you can't get a 245 inside that wheelwell. I can fit a 295/50 inside mine with the correct backspacing. These cars have huge wheel wells.  I say do it Todd!

With the wheels I got now if you hit a good bump the edge of the tire will hit the wheel well lip.  I've got the air shocks at a good place for me in the car but if I get a few people in it mostly in the backseat I need more air. Now to figure out how to determine the proper wheel   or a place I can order wheels that knows what I need.


Todd

[Todd Wilson]

Ha i remember that blow out in Boerne, the sway bars are an excellent idea i had them on my old 68 front and rear  the steering box  was new from autozone and shimmed to be less twitchy i   would check out firm feel or others as well

YUP!   I think that wheel got slightly bent when that happened and gives me a slight vibration to this day.

[200MPH]

I bet! we were moving pretty good through those hills! wow that was june 98

[Todd Wilson]

go with the Steer & gear box 
   http://www.steerandgear.com/      they have a firm feel stage II box that works great and cheaper .


  I love mine , I also added bigger T-Bars and front and rear sway bars over the winter 
  car drives like a dream now 


Get it ready , make it comfy and road worthy and drive the hell out of it  LIFE is short ENJOY !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for that link! I had not heard of those guys! How rought is it to change the steering box?   WIth the small block I think I can get to everything fairly easy. Pull the column and pop the P arm (how much of a pain is that)?


Todd

[200MPH]

Jr helped me with mine i had small block it wasn',t too bad

[Ghoste]

They're heavy and not quite as accessible as you think but not the hardest thing to do either.   You won't be done in 30 minutes but you won't be days before you can drive it again.

[Todd Wilson]

I bet! we were moving pretty good through those hills! wow that was june 98

Pics
http://www.job-rated.com/brn1998/boerne98.htm



I had a blast at Boerne. Met a lot of people that year!

Todd

[200MPH]

sweet i remember that like Yesterday!!  June 6th ,  the more i think about the steering box i had remove the bolt from the driver MM and jack one side up to get access to the box

[Mytur Binsdirti]

OK, you asked. Upgrade to a 68 R/T. That's the only way to go!   :

[AirborneSilva]

I bet! we were moving pretty good through those hills! wow that was june 98

Pics
http://www.job-rated.com/brn1998/boerne98.htm



I had a blast at Boerne. Met a lot of people that year!

Todd

Where you located ?

[Todd Wilson]

OK, you asked. Upgrade to a 68 R/T. That's the only way to go!   :

'

While the 2nd gens are cool   they dont even come close to the handling the 3rd gens have.


Todd

[Todd Wilson]

I bet! we were moving pretty good through those hills! wow that was june 98

I had a blast at Boerne. Met a lot of people that year!

Todd

Where you located ?

I am in Kansas............


Todd

[AirborneSilva]

I bet! we were moving pretty good through those hills! wow that was june 98

I had a blast at Boerne. Met a lot of people that year!

Todd

Where you located ?

I am in Kansas............


Todd

Ah, I saw you mentioned Boerne and thought you were in my area...  Thanks 

[Paul G]

I installed a front sway bar on my 72 last year. It was one of the best mods I have done. I want to add a rear bar soon.

The 3rd gen rear wheel wells are huge, problem is the leaf spring. It is pretty close to the drum. That limits how much back space you can use on a wheel. Stay with no more than an 8" wide wheel on the rear with 4 1/2" backspace and it will clear everything. You can even use a tire up to 275. On the front a 7" wide wheel with 4 1/4" back space will clear as well. No more than a 245 and it wont rub. Those are standard Magnum 500 sizes from Wheel Vintiques. Other companies may make Magnum 500's with other offsets. I don't know.